Device for indicating the rise of molten metal to a predetermined level in a mold



T. H. IVORY DEVICE] FOR INDICATING THE RISE OF MOLTEN METAL TO APREDETERMINED LEVEL IN A MOLD Filed Jan.

lNVE/VTOR THOMAS H. IVORY United States Patent 3 027 612 DEVICE FoRrNDICAiIN THE RISE OF MOLTEN METAL TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL IN A MOLDThomas H. Ivory, 16 S. 4th St., Duquesne, Pa. Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser.No. 784,628 3 Claims. (Cl. 22-439) This invention relates to a devicefor indicating the rise of molten metal to a predetermined level as itis teemed into a mold.

The device is particularly useful in combination with a mold in whichsteel ingots are cast and which is equipped with a hot top. Aconventional hot top includes a refractory lined open ended metalcasting supported on blocks which rest on the upper surface of an ingotmold. Its purpose is to maintain a reservoir of molten steel for feedingback into voids which form as an ingot solidifies. The lower portion ofa hot top projects downwardly within the upper portion of the moldcavity. When molten steel is teemed into the mold, its flow should bestopped momentarily as the level reaches the lower end of the hot top.This pause enables some steel to solidify below the hot top casting andthus prevents steel from rising into the space between the casting andmold. Otherwise steel can solidify in this space and cause hot topstickers. When stickers occur, valuable time is lost in stripping hottops, and their refractory linings may be damaged or their castingscracked. Nevertheless the invention is not limited to this application,but may be used elsewhere for overcoming similar problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in combination with amold, a device which furnishes a conspicuous visible indication whenmetal reaches a predetermined level in the mold.

A further object is to provide, in combination with an ingot mold and ahot top, a device which furnishes an indication when metal teemed intothe mold reaches the bottom of the hot top, thus enabling the operatorto cease pouring until the necessary solidification takes place toprevent metal from rising into the space between the hot top casting andmold.

A more specific object is to provide, in combination with an ingot moldand a hot top, an indicating device which includes a strip of magnesiumor equivalent fixed to the lower portion of the hot top to be ignitedwhen molten metal reaches its level and thus furnishing a conspicuousindication.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which isshown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The single FIGURE is a side elevational view, with parts broken away,showing a portion of an ingot mold and hot top equipped with anindicating device in accordance with my invention.

The figure shows the upper portion of a conventional big-end-up ingotmold which has a cavity 12. A hot top 13 is supported on wood blocks 14,which rest on the upper surface of the mold in the conventional way. Thelower portion of the hot top extends downwardly within the mold cavity12. A sand ring 15 underlies the bottom surface of the hot top and isheld in place by wire clips 16, which are received in openings in thehot top casting and extend under the ring in the conventional way.

3,027,612 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 In accordance with my invention, I mounta strip 17 of magnesium or equivalent substance capable of producing aconspicuous flare outside the hot top adjacent its lower edge. The stripis located out of the direct path of molten steel teemed into the moldto prevent its igniting prematurely. Conveniently the strip can bemounted between the outer surface of the sand ring 15 and the wire clips16, although other equivalent mounting means can be used. When moltensteel is teemed into the mold and reaches the level of the strip, theheat ignites the strip, which furnishes a conspicuous signal. Thus theoperator is able to stop fiow of steel momentarily to allow somesolidification to take place, and subsequently resume teeming until themetal reaches the proper level within the hot top. Without theindication which my invention furnishes, the operator has no certain wayof knowing exactly when to stop the flow of steel and hence must actlargely by guess.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of myinvention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I donot wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination, with a mold adapted to receive molten metal, of adevice for indicating the rise of metal therein to a predetermined levelcomprising a strip of magnesium and means supporting said strip at saidlevel but out of the direct path of metal poured into the mold, saidstrip being ignited by heat of the molten metal on reaching this leveland thus producing a conspicuous flare.

2. The combination, with an ingot mold and a hot top mounted at the topthereof with its lower end projecting into the mold cavity, of a devicefor indicating the rise of molten metal in the mold to the bottom of thehot top comprising a strip of magnesium and means supporting said stripwithin the mold but outside the hot top out of the direct path of metalteemed into the mold and adiacent the lower end of the hot top, saidstrip being ignited by heat of the molten metal on reaching the lowerend of the hot top and thus producing a conspicuous flare.

3. The combination, with an ingot mold having a cavity adapted toreceive molten metal and an opening at the top through which moltenmetal can be poured into said cavity, and a hot top mounted at the topof said mold and extending through said opening part way into saidcavity, of a device for indicating the rise of molten metal in saidcavity to the bottom of said hot top comprising a mass of material whichis easily ignited and burns with a conspicuous flare, and meanssupporting said mass within said cavity at the bottom of said hot top,said mass being located outside said hot top and protected by said hottop from direct contact with metal poured through said opening, wherebysaid mass ignites only when metal rises in said cavity to the bottom ofsaid hot top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS315,741 Henderson Apr. 14, 1885 316,544 Henderson April 28, 18852,390,500 Charman et a1 Dec. 11, 1945 2,591,517 Daussan Apr. 1, 1952

